alpha centauri B might harbor an earth-like planet

[Jerry_111]

Terrestrial planets (rocky) in habitable zones (orbits that allow the planets to have a lot of water, like earth) have been discovered orbiting hundreds and thousands of light years away, but its becoming likely that alpha centauri B -- a star only 4 lightyears away -- might harbor such a planet.

Two stars (ours and centauri) only 4.2 lightyears apart might both have earth-like planets! Imagine if the galaxy was filled with Earths.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080307-another-earth.html

On a slightly unrelated note, check out this cool picture:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080305.html

So far we've found about 300 planets, most of them gas giants. Now we're starting to find smaller earth-sized ones.

 

[highlander]

Awesome. Another planet too **** up

 

[Beerdude26]

Ooh interesting

 

[Seppo]

wow now this is exciting

 

[JFry]

that tears it I'm leavin this rock.

 

[TechnoHippyChic]

Too bad we can probably never get there...

 

[Ennui]

There could be a LOT of terrestrial planets - the reason we've found so many more gas giants is because they're much easier to detect than the smaller terrestrial planets that could potentially harbor life. I want to believe

 

[Raziaar]

It's harboring an earth like planet! QUICK, INVADE!

 

[Seppo]

hadr to imagnie that there 's no other planet like earth in space

 

[Raziaar]

hadr to imagnie that there 's no other planet like earth in space

You have to remember though. Earth is close enough to the sun to be warmed by it, yet far enough to not be cooked and all the water evaporated.

We're also not in an area of space where there are tons and tons of stars in close proximity, like many other areas of the Milky Way Galaxy... with stars so close that night for us now, would seem like the brightest day you have ever imagined... only brighter.

I'm sure life could exist in such an environment, but it'd be far different than what we have here on earth. Life would be completely different with eternally sunlit days.

There's a whole ton more reasons too, why earth is such a rarity so far in our search of similar planets in the galaxy.

You can't just think of the conditions of the planet itself, but also the space environment around it.

 

[clarky003]

There's probably countless numbers out there, and maybe just one day we will find out we are one of a countless number of races that are probably a hell of alot older than we are.

 

[Druckles]

Total change of tune. It's not April already is it?

Oh, and Techno, nice avatar

 

[Sheepo]

That's pretty cool. Can anyone remember the name of that ice moon in this solar system that people think might have life. I think it's Neptune's, but I've really got no idea.

 

[Jerry_111]

Too bad we can probably never get there...

Going past the speed of light is shaky, but Einstein never said that we couldn't go 99.9%. Heck, even at half the speed of light it would take a mere 8 years to reach there.

Never say never.

 

[Sheepo]

Going past the speed of light is shaky, but Einstein never said that we couldn't go 99.9%. Heck, even at half the speed of light it would take a mere 8 years to reach there.

Never say never.

You just doused me with a refreshing glass of optimism. Why thank you

 

[Dog--]

You have to remember though. Earth is close enough to the sun to be warmed by it, yet far enough to not be cooked and all the water evaporated.

We're also not in an area of space where there are tons and tons of stars in close proximity, like many other areas of the Milky Way Galaxy... with stars so close that night for us now, would seem like the brightest day you have ever imagined... only brighter.

I'm sure life could exist in such an environment, but it'd be far different than what we have here on earth. Life would be completely different with eternally sunlit days.

There's a whole ton more reasons too, why earth is such a rarity so far in our search of similar planets in the galaxy.

You can't just think of the conditions of the planet itself, but also the space environment around it.

It also depends on your definition of life.. We're only limited by the life we know, we can't comprehend different type of life, like living rocks or something, so you never know...

That's pretty cool. Can anyone remember the name of that ice moon in this solar system that people think might have life. I think it's Neptune's, but I've really got no idea.

Io (pronounced eye-oh)

 

[Ennui]

actually he's referring to Europa, which is a moon of Jupiter and the most likely place in the Solar System for extraterrestrial life (albeit on a microbial level). Io is also a moon of Jupiter though.

 

[The Monkey]

Alpha Centauri B might be one of the few stars in the universe we might actually have a chance to visit, so if we discover life there, it'd be awesome.

 

[theotherguy]

Going past the speed of light is shaky, but Einstein never said that we couldn't go 99.9%. Heck, even at half the speed of light it would take a mere 8 years to reach there.

Never say never.

99.9% the speed of light would still require near-infinite amounts of energy. All the energy output of the sun could only get a crew-carrying ship up to 10-15 percent the speed of light. This is of course, if it were used all at once.

However, by applying a light thrust (and thus long impulse) to an object over the course of many years (perhaps centuries), one could speed the ship up close to the speed of light. It is important that the thrust isn't too high, because high acceleration's could kill the crew or destroy the vessel. You only need a small, stable energy source and a small, stable thruster. So, on a journey to alpha centuri, most of the distance would be covered in the last few years, but with the best imaginable technologies, it would still take decades, if not centuries, to reach it. Luckily, relativistic effects will start to kick in at the end of the journey making it much less arduous.

 

[Raziaar]

You're thinking about it all wrong!

You don't build a ship that moves through the universe! You build one that moves the universe around the ship!

It is only then that you shall have the paradise planet you seek.

 

[Skaadi]

I'm getting a Stargate vibe from all of this...

 

[Dog--]

-snip-

Why don't you have a seat over there?

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Awesome. Isn't there some sattelite going into orbit around 2010 that can detect planets? And tell what they're composition is (like a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, etc.)?

 

[15357]

Hey, that's pretty awesome. *crosses fingers*

Why don't you have a seat over there?

That man scares me. His eyes are full of evil.

 

[TechnoHippyChic]

Oh, and Techno, nice avatar

Thanks! Old one was old, needed some color!


We would have to find a way to harvest energy along the way, or tap ZPE, or something, to think about going to the stars. Can't get to the next planet yet, don't even have space tourism... :frown:

 

[kattmat]

Awesome. Isn't there some sattelite going into orbit around 2010 that can detect planets? And tell what they're composition is (like a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, etc.)?

Unfortunately Terrestrial Planet Finder has been delayed and is as far as I know close to cancellation. The European Corot mission is in orbit right now however and is capable of detecting terrestrial planets.

This story isn't any real news though, since astronomers have been aware of the potential for planets around Alpha Centauri for a long time.

 

[hungryduck]

time to start makin manz starcraft style and invade

 

[Godron]

However, by applying a light thrust (and thus long impulse) to an object over the course of many years (perhaps centuries), one could speed the ship up close to the speed of light. It is important that the thrust isn't too high, because high acceleration's could kill the crew or destroy the vessel. You only need a small, stable energy source and a small, stable thruster. So, on a journey to alpha centuri, most of the distance would be covered in the last few years, but with the best imaginable technologies, it would still take decades, if not centuries, to reach it. Luckily, relativistic effects will start to kick in at the end of the journey making it much less arduous.

You mean like the ion thruster? I think they're meant to be very low acceleration, but very efficient, achieving very high speeds eventually.


I always thought the ideal way to explore the universe would be an army of small robots. They'd stay in costant contact with each other and share information, building a map of the environment they are exploring. Lots of small machines are a lot less vulnerable than a single large machine. If a big space probe gets hit by an asteroid the size of a pea, then that could disable it completely. If they could repair each other then even better, maybe they could even modify each other according to commands from earth. Obviously that would be extremely difficult, but maybe it'll be possible some time in the future.

 

[Bad^Hat]

There's a whole ton more reasons too, why earth is such a rarity so far in our search of similar planets in the galaxy.

It's a good thing we found it first, then.

Damn martian realters.

 

[Seppo]

actually he's referring to Europa, which is a moon of Jupiter and the most likely place in the Solar System for extraterrestrial life (albeit on a microbial level). Io is also a moon of Jupiter though.

europe isn't a planet it's a country man. and the moon is called just moon, it doesn't have a name like "harry" or "pete"

 

[Eejit]

You mean like the ion thruster? I think they're meant to be very low acceleration, but very efficient, achieving very high speeds eventually.


I always thought the ideal way to explore the universe would be an army of small robots. They'd stay in costant contact with each other and share information, building a map of the environment they are exploring. Lots of small machines are a lot less vulnerable than a single large machine. If a big space probe gets hit by an asteroid the size of a pea, then that could disable it completely. If they could repair each other then even better, maybe they could even modify each other according to commands from earth. Obviously that would be extremely difficult, but maybe it'll be possible some time in the future.

Except those von Neumann probes would turn into berzerkers. It is inevitable.

 

[TechnoHippyChic]

Universal Gray Goo.

europe isn't a planet it's a country man. and the moon is called just moon, it doesn't have a name like "harry" or "pete"

Luna. Also, Europa != Europe. Also pie.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Except those von Neumann probes would turn into berzerkers. It is inevitable.

Yeah, but it'll at least give us something interesting to fight

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Except those von Neumann probes would turn into berzerkers. It is inevitable.

This is the fault I always saw with Von Neumann probes. Unless they were actually counscious, how would they distinct between life bearing worlds and barren ones, people from planets, etc.

 

[Druckles]

actually he's referring to Europa, which is a moon of Jupiter and the most likely place in the Solar System for extraterrestrial life (albeit on a microbial level). Io is also a moon of Jupiter though.

Yes. This .

We can't be certain, but it's possible there's life underneath the ice.

 

[theotherguy]

You mean like the ion thruster? I think they're meant to be very low acceleration, but very efficient, achieving very high speeds eventually.


I always thought the ideal way to explore the universe would be an army of small robots. They'd stay in costant contact with each other and share information, building a map of the environment they are exploring. Lots of small machines are a lot less vulnerable than a single large machine. If a big space probe gets hit by an asteroid the size of a pea, then that could disable it completely. If they could repair each other then even better, maybe they could even modify each other according to commands from earth. Obviously that would be extremely difficult, but maybe it'll be possible some time in the future.

Yep, an ion thruster or a low-energy plasma thruster like VASMIR. Possibly even a nuclear thruster. When I was interning at NASA we got to see the plasma engine prototype and a working ion engine, and I have to say, both technologies are on the verge of an explosion of use in space technologies.

 

[delusional]

99.9% the speed of light would still require near-infinite amounts of energy. All the energy output of the sun could only get a crew-carrying ship up to 10-15 percent the speed of light. This is of course, if it were used all at once.

However, by applying a light thrust (and thus long impulse) to an object over the course of many years (perhaps centuries), one could speed the ship up close to the speed of light. It is important that the thrust isn't too high, because high acceleration's could kill the crew or destroy the vessel. You only need a small, stable energy source and a small, stable thruster. So, on a journey to alpha centuri, most of the distance would be covered in the last few years, but with the best imaginable technologies, it would still take decades, if not centuries, to reach it. Luckily, relativistic effects will start to kick in at the end of the journey making it much less arduous.

Don't you have to start decelerating once your half way till your destination?

 

[Slug Advisor]

Humanity's doing it wrong. Screw planets, we need space stations! Dyson Spheres and Space Pyramids, preferably.

 

[theotherguy]

Don't you have to start decelerating once your half way till your destination?

well, if your acceleration is constant and you want to stop...yes.

I think I'll do the math on this one:
Distance to Alpha Centuri B:
4 Light Years

In kilometers:
37,842,921,890,323.2

tThrust provided by the most efficient ion thruster:
88500 microNewtons

Mass of an object the size of the space shuttle:
2,029,203 kg

Speed of Light:
300,000 km/s

acceleration on space shuttle provided by constant thrust:

F=ma

88.5 N=2029203(a)

a=.0000436 m/s

Assuming enough energy is provided by the engine,and assuming the ship starts at rest, the time it takes to get to the speed of light is:
300,000,000 m/s= 0 + .0000436 (t)

t=6.88x10^12 seconds=218,018.701 years years (so it would take 218,018 years to accelerate to the speed of light)

now, lets see how long it would take to get to alpha centuri B at that acceleration without slowing down:
Distance=0+(.5)(acelleration)(time^2)
37,842,921,890,323,200=0+(.5)(.0000436)(time^2)

time=41 664 299 444.2 seconds=1,320.29018 years.

how fast you'd be going at that point: 0+(.000436)(41 664 299 444.2)= 18 165 634.6 m/s= .06 C (about 6 percent the speed of light)

So, if you didn't have to slow down, you could use an ion engine to get to alpha centuri B in 1,320.29018 years

However, if you had to slow down:

For half the journey we will speed up:
Positive acceleration for 1.89214609 ? 10^16 meters
1.89214609 ? 10^16 =0+(.5)(.0000436)(time^2)

933.586136 years

Negative acceleration for the next 1.89214609 ? 10^16 meters

933.586136 years

Total time to alpha centuri B, ending at rest:

about 1,867.17227 years

 

[Ennui]

von Neumann probes = a seriously bad idea.